The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-10-26

day in setting up in type a report of the
trial
Hes got some delusion in his head about
this trial." said Mrs. Wafflles.
mot so sure about that" replied her hus-
band. "He never had one before Ask him
what he wants to do
Mrs Waffies did so. Mr.. Bib smiled fee
bly, and said: "Going to see Alfred-must
not hang my son Alfred"
''What is your name, sir?" asked Mr. Waf-
ties in loud tone.
''Stuckey. Martin Stuckey," was the
prompt response.
Precious rum delusion!" observed Mr..
Waffies. Look here, Mr.. Stuckey; how did
you come here?"
The old man passed his hand across his
forehead and looked helplessly around him.
MY son Alfred" he said; then paused and
shook his head. Presently he went on in a
rambling fashion: "Went out with Alfred
-Ephraim changed my clothes-close by the
river-Ephraim pushed me into train-no,
ne! Mustn't hang Alfredo
"There's something in this" said Mr..
Waffies decisively. "He couldn't have got
all this out of the newspaper. How do we
know that this old boy isn't Martin Stuckey,
as he saysP He was brought here on the
very night Martin Stuckey disappeared.
He had nothing about him to show his name,
you remember. Young Bib bought him new
linen and told you to mark it, Martin
Stuckey was weak in his head; so is he
The name of Martin Stuckey's second son is
Ephraim, and doesn't he call Bib Ephraim?
Put on your things, Sally, and come round
with me to the police. They will have a
description of old Stuckey, and will very
soon tell us what to do. Look sharpl They
may be sentencing that poor devil to death
this minute"
1t was more than usually painful mo-
ment when the jury gave their verdict
Close under the dock sat the white-haired
rector of Alfred Stuckey's parish, who had
stood by his curate with touching faith, and
whose daughter was reported to be engaged
to the prisoner. He rose as the verdict was
given, as though to comfort the unhappy
man in the box. Just beside him was
Ephraim Stuckey, who had been one of the
principal witnesses against his brother.
His position and the emotion he displayed
while giving his evidence, excited much COM
miseration. He had grown deadly pale
when the jury returned, and when the YER
dict was given he buried his face in his
hands.
The judge, in the usual form, asked the
prisoner whether he had anything to say.
AT that moment there.was some confusion
and stir in the well of the court, two or three
persons, escorted by a policeman, pushing
their way towards the solicitor for the de-
fence. The prisoner saw them, and great
change came over his face
''Only this, my lord" he said, pointing to
where Mr.. Bib stood between Mr.. and Mrs
Waffies, shat there stands Martin Stuckey,
my father, whom am accused of murder
ing"
At the next session of the Central Criminal
Court, another member of the Stuckey fam
lily stood in the dock. 1t was Ephraim this
time, and he was indicted for perjury and for
attempting to obtain money from the Monu-
ment Assurance Company by false pretences.
He was found guilty on both indictments
and sentenced to seven years penal servi-
tude for the first offense and five for the
second, the Judge observing that if he had
the power to pass a heavier sentence he
should have been pleased to exercise it. In
this most people thought that his Lordship
was right